Switch



Marsh 23 1926. 1,577,857

L. B. WiLLiAMS SWITCH A Filed Sept. 14, 1923 M m I INVENTOR. Laws 5. W/H/ ms ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES LOUIS B. WILLIAMS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SWITCH.

Application filed September 14, 1923. Serial No. 662,656

T 0 all whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. IVILLLmrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification, refer ence being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to switches, and, in particular, to dimmer switches.

It is the object of my invention to provide a dimmer switch which may be operated either by the hand or the foot of the operator.

In particular it is my object to provide a combined foot rest and dimmer switch, it being possible to operate the switch and the accelerator of an automobile, and to support the same foot all at the same time.

It will be understood, however, that while this specific application is an important purpose of my invention, I do not desire to confine myself to that particular phase of its application, but comprehend within the disclosure and the claims its application and modification to varying uses.

In addition, it is my purpose to provide a method of assembly of the several parts of the structure constituting the invention which is cheap and readily accomplished.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the switch, showing in dotted lines a portion of the structure, circuits, and the like.

'Figure 2 is a side elevation, showing the relative position of the switch used as a support on a floor board of an automobile ,to the accelerator.

Figure 3 is a section on the line AA of Figure 1.

Figure 4 IS a section on the line BB of Figure 1.

1 is a casing or wall, preferably formed of a iece of tubing, in one end of which there is a washer or ring 2 acting as the base of the casing. Formed into the base of this casing is a tubular supporting member 3, through the hollow interior of which pass the wires 4 and 5 to a ssurcc of current and to the lamps.

Mounted upon the top of this casing is a slidably mounted head, consisting of a bottom plate 6 and outwardly tapered shoulders 7, which forms an annulus for supporting in this top, which thus becomes a cup, a resilient pad 8, which facilitates the frictional engagement of the foot with the sliding top, and also yieldingly supports the foot on top of the entire structure.

011 the under side of this top, beneath the plate 6, is an insulating disc 9, from which is suspended a pair of contact fingers 10. There is also suspended on the under side of the plate 6 a pair of slides 11, which engage a transverse snap bolt 12, having notches 13 near the middle thereof, permanently attached to the side. walls of the casing. These notches alternately come in contact with the spring finger 14: also carried on theunder side of the sliding top. As the top is brought into. one position, the finger snaps into one notch, and when it is brought into the other position the finger snaps into the other notch.

The contact fingers 10 are V-shaped. They engage with the bottom contacts, which consist of a plate 15 having an edge 16 buried in an insulating support 17 carried in the bottom of the casing. This plate 15 is struck up into a semi-circular portion 18 for receiving one end of the wire 4: or 5, thus securely clamping the wire in position against the insulating plate 17. This is further permanently effected by the rivet 19.

By sliding the top, the contacts are made or broken, so that the resistance is brought into play or cut out.

In order to apply it to the floor board readily, I provide the tubular member 3 with external threads 20 which carry the nuts 21 associated with the washers 22, so that the whole structure may be permanently mounted upon the floor board 23 of an automobile adjacent to an accelerator 24.

Returning to the wiring diagram, it will be understood'that in Figure 6 the arrangement is such that the plate 29 is connected to the battery, while the terminal 30 is connected to the large lamps and the terminal 31 to the small lamps, thus securing the same effect as dimming where only one set 'of lamps is employed. This latter is the circuit illustrated in Figure 7, where the contact 32 is connected by one wire and the contact 33 is connected by another wire to erally in the usual manner. actuate the accelerator, and by pushing the foot fore and aft or shifting it laterally as preferred, the switch may be shifted and snapped from one position to another.

It is apparent that this same form of switch may be applied to other uses as well as that described.

\Vith reference to the special clip shown in Figure 8, it will be understood that a slight indentation or groove is made in the fiber plate 17 for the receptionof the edge 16, and then, when the plate 15 is positioned by the insertion of 16 in the groove in the plate, the whole structure is riveted together and brought flush, thus holding the wire firmly in position, with no chance of any late 'al shifting. Itserves to readily position the plate 15 on the fiber base 17, a matter of great advantage in assembling such small parts and definitely locating them.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A combined automobile accelerator foot-rest and switch comprising a casing, means of supporting said casing, a plurality of contacts. said contacts being mounted within the casing upon an insulating base, an insulating base, a sliding cover for said casing having operating contacts suspended therefrom, and means to insulate said contacts from said cover.

2. A combined automobile accelerator foot-rest and switch comprising a casing, means of supporting said casing, a plurality of contacts, said contacts being mounted within the casing upon an insulating base. an insulating base, a sliding cover for said casing having operating contacts suspended therefrom, means to insulate said contacts from said cover, and means to snap into pre means of supporting said casing, a plurality of contacts, said contacts being mounted within the casing upon an insulating base, an insulating base, a sliding cover for said casing having operating contacts suspended therefrom, means to insulate said contacts from said cover, means to snap into predetermined receiving shoulders, said means being carried b the sliding casing, said shoulders being ormed in a part associated with said casing, whereby the cover of the casing may be definitely located with respect to it in several positions, and a yielding member mounted on the top of said cover.

4. In a switch, a casing, a. tubular support therefor, an insulating plate on the interior of the bottom thereof, a plurality of contacts mounted thereon, a sliding cover, an insulating plate on the bottom thereof, a plurality of V-shaped fingers suspended therefrom adapted to engage with said contacts as mentioned, a transversely located pin carried by said casing, slides connected to said cover sliding on said pin, and a spring finger adapted to fit in successive notches in said pin, said finger being carried bysaid cover.

5. In a switch, a casing, a tubular support therefor, an insulating plate on the interior of the bottom thereof, a plurality of contacts mounted thereon, a sliding cover, an insulating plate on the bottom thereof, a plurality of V-shaped fingers suspended therefrom adapted to engage with said contacts as mentioned, a transversely located pin car ried by said casing, slides connected to said cover sliding on said pin, and a spring finger adapted to fit in successive notches in said pin, said finger being carried by said cover, the outer surface of said cover being cup-shaped to receive a resilient pad, and a resilient pad.

6. In a switch, a casing, a tubular support therefor, an insulating plate on the interior of the bottom thereof, a plurality of contacts mounted thereon, a sliding cover, an insulating plate on the bottom thereof. a plurality of V-shaped fingers suspended therefrom adapted to engage with said contacts as mentioned, a transversely located pin carried by said casing, slides connected to said cover sliding on said pin, a spring finger adapted to fit in successive notches in said pin, said finger being carried by said cover, the outer surface of said cowr being cupshaped to receive a resilient pad. a resilient pad, threads on the exterior of the tubular support, and nuts thereon for attaching said support to the fioor board of an automobile.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

LOUIS B. IVILLIAMS. 

